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U.K. researchers found that women carrying mutations in the BRCA1 gene may have a higher risk of breast cancer if they also have a "risk version" of a DNA area called 19p13. In another study, scientists found that the same DNA region appears to play a role in the development of ovarian cancer in those who don't have the faulty version of the BRCA1 gene. "This is important because it suggests that women who carry certain versions of this DNA stretch could benefit from closer monitoring for both breast and ovarian cancers," one of the lead researchers said.

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A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that ovarian cancer patients carrying the BRCA2 gene variation, which is linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, have higher survival rates than women with the BRCA1 mutation and those without either gene variation. Researchers found that patients with the BRCA2 mutation are more likely to respond to chemotherapy. The findings suggest that BRCA2 and BRCA1 are different mutations that should be studied separately, the study author said.

A U.S. district judge has nullified some of the patents held by Myriad Genetics for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes associated with breast and ovarian cancers because the "isolated DNA is not markedly different from native DNA as it exists in nature." Myriad CEO Peter Meldrum said that the company will appeal the ruling and that he believes the final ruling will have no effect on the company's operations.

A U.S. district judge has nullified some of the patents held by Myriad Genetics for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes associated with breast and ovarian cancers because the "isolated DNA is not markedly different from native DNA as it exists in nature." Myriad CEO Peter Meldrum said the company will appeal the ruling and that he believes the final ruling will have no effect on the company's operations.

Olaparib, a cancer drug that blocks a DNA-repair protein called Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, reduced tumor size in breast, ovarian and prostate cancer patients who carry BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, a Phase I study found. Few side effects appeared and those were managed by lowering dosage, researchers said.

Canadian researchers found that prostate cancer patients who carry BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- defective genes that are associated with ovarian cancer and an increased breast cancer risk among women -- had post-diagnosis survival times that fell short of the 12-year average for men. Patients with the BRCA1 gene lived on average for eight years while those with the BRCA2 survived on average for four years after diagnosis, according to the study.